Health insurance?

Snuggles

Snuggles

Well-Known Member
What health insurance options are out there for self-employed pilots and CFIs?

I've been instructing on a contract basis since January and have had absolutely no luck finding reasonable health insurance coverage, mainly due to one minor health problem (kidney stone - 3 years ago) that has made me, as I keep hearing, uninsurable.

I'm healthy overall (good enough for a 1st class certificate, anyway) but without an employer to back me up, getting coverage has proven to be impossible.

Advice/links/tender sympathy appreciated.
 
I have a friend that sells health and life insurance. If you are interested, let me know and I will send you his email and phone number.

Kyle

Edit: I just noticed you don't reside in TX so my friend can't help. Sorry!
 
I am also interested if any of the self-employed pilots/CFIs have input on insurance.
 
not self employed by like many the company doesn't provide any.

I use Blue Cross Blue Shield (of Illinois)

pretty cheap, everything major is covered for $91 a month
 
I got a temp policy on esurance.com when I switched jobs and needed a policy while I was ineligible for benefits.
 
I also got a temp policy for a period of 6 months when I left the military. It covered catastrophic issues, so not really sure how useful it would be to someone who wants real health insurance.

That said, it cost about $200 a month for family coverage.
 
surreal1221 said:
I also got a temp policy for a period of 6 months when I left the military. It covered catastrophic issues, so not really sure how useful it would be to someone who wants real health insurance.

That said, it cost about $200 a month for family coverage.
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Yep, I got that kind of coverage now (through HealthNet) but it's about to expire and cannot be renewed. I'm just sick of worrying about spraining an ankle or something stupid like that and having it ruin me financially.
 
If you can't get on a private health care plan you're pretty much screwed. Stop instructing, get on with a company that provides a group plan, wait 90 days to get coverage and then quit that job to get a COBRA.

And I hope you got that kidney stone while you had group coverage, because if you didn't there's no obligation for any insurance company to pick it up. Ever.
 
Snuggles said:
Yep, I got that kind of coverage now (through HealthNet) but it's about to expire and cannot be renewed. I'm just sick of worrying about spraining an ankle or something stupid like that and having it ruin me financially.
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You go to the doc for a sprained ankle???

Have you ever thought of working for starbucks part time? They offer health insurance to part timers. You only have to avg. 20 hours a week. And you get a pound of coffee every week!
 
blee256 said:
You go to the doc for a sprained ankle???

Have you ever thought of working for starbucks part time? They offer health insurance to part timers. You only have to avg. 20 hours a week. And you get a pound of coffee every week!
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I went to a doctor because of a sprained wrist. I wasn't sure if it was broken or not, and to be honest neither did the doctors. They x-rayed me 6 times, but couldn't determine if my scaphoid was broken. If they got it wrong and didn't cast me, then I'd end up having surgery in 6 months to put a pin through the bone. If they got it wrong and casted me, my wife would have killed me as it was a week before our wedding :)
 
So I ran a real quick thing on BCBS TX site and came up with ~90-100 a month. That seems way too low. Can anyone point me somewhere where I could find gotchas and such to look out for? I'm trying to put together a rough budget for a job offer.
 
jtrain609 said:
I went to a doctor because of a sprained wrist. I wasn't sure if it was broken or not, and to be honest neither did the doctors. They x-rayed me 6 times, but couldn't determine if my scaphoid was broken. If they got it wrong and didn't cast me, then I'd end up having surgery in 6 months to put a pin through the bone. If they got it wrong and casted me, my wife would have killed me as it was a week before our wedding :)
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The wrist I can understand. Cuz thats rare. but i sprain my ankle all the time playing sports. maybe I am just clumsy. haha
 
Roger said:
So I ran a real quick thing on BCBS TX site and came up with ~90-100 a month. That seems way too low. Can anyone point me somewhere where I could find gotchas and such to look out for? I'm trying to put together a rough budget for a job offer.
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You've gotta actually get a quote from them for you.

I found rates around $150 for insurance in for BCBS of Utah, but once I talked with them they were not sure they would insure me, and said that I'd pay more like $400 a month if they did.
 
You want to look at deductible, max payout, co-pay amounts, co-insurance percentages.

My current plan is through BCBC of Michigan
$0 deductible
$20 deductible for doctors
$30 for Urgent Care
$100 for ER if not admitted
$0 for ER if admitted
No Lifetime Max Benefit
Insurance Pays 100% after deductible (no co-insurance, some will show 80/20 meaning after the deductible the insurance company picks up 80% you the other 20%)
I pay $167 a month.
 
jtrain609 said:
You've gotta actually get a quote from them for you.

I found rates around $150 for insurance in for BCBS of Utah, but once I talked with them they were not sure they would insure me, and said that I'd pay more like $400 a month if they did.
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That's what I figured. The number they pitch on the website is just to suck you in. Friggin pain in the butt. I hope I get an offer from a place that has a plan.
 
N826AW said:
You want to look at deductible, max payout, co-pay amounts, co-insurance percentages.

My current plan is through BCBC of Michigan
$0 deductible
$20 deductible for doctors
$30 for Urgent Care
$100 for ER if not admitted
$0 for ER if admitted
No Lifetime Max Benefit
Insurance Pays 100% after deductible (no co-insurance, some will show 80/20 meaning after the deductible the insurance company picks up 80% you the other 20%)
I pay $167 a month.
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OK, see, that's exactly what I was looking for. Thanks!
 
If any of y'all live in Kentucky, and need health insurance, or just insurance in general send me a PM, and I will get you a quote!
 
Roger said:
So I ran a real quick thing on BCBS TX site and came up with ~90-100 a month. That seems way too low. Can anyone point me somewhere where I could find gotchas and such to look out for? I'm trying to put together a rough budget for a job offer.
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Make sure the yearly deductible is something you can afford. I had health care through my previous employer that had a $3500 deductible for the year. Pretty much useless for me.

I have BCBS right now. I think I pay around $130ish a month.

jtrain609 said:
If you can't get on a private health care plan you're pretty much screwed. Stop instructing, get on with a company that provides a group plan, wait 90 days to get coverage and then quit that job to get a COBRA.
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The problem with that, is that most employers subsidize the cost of the health insurance plan. When you get COBRA, you are required to pay for the whole thing, which is usually MORE expensive than individual coverage through most places.
 
jtrain609 said:
If you can't get on a private health care plan you're pretty much screwed. Stop instructing, get on with a company that provides a group plan, wait 90 days to get coverage and then quit that job to get a COBRA.

And I hope you got that kidney stone while you had group coverage, because if you didn't there's no obligation for any insurance company to pick it up. Ever.
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When did you get your insurance license?

-mini
 
minitour said:
When did you get your insurance license?

-mini
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About 27 years ago from my father, I inherited everything wrong with me from the SOB :)

If you're required to work within these systems for long enough, you start to find out very quickly where the edges are.
 
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